Likatonia

[SWPV]

The Red Star Tribune
"Clovisport Protests Erupt Against Controversial 'Retirement & Welfare Adjustment Act'"

Citizens Rally to Preserve Social Safety Nets Amid Proposed Reforms

Clovisport has become a scene of passionate protests as thousands of citizens take to the streets to voice their opposition to the proposed "Retirement & Welfare Adjustment Act." The bill, introduced by the current administration, seeks to make sweeping changes to various aspects of retirement age, social welfare benefits, and child benefit policies. Amid the uproar, demonstrators are demanding the preservation of social safety nets and equitable distribution of resources.

Amid the sea of protesters, passionate activists shared their heartfelt sentiments, revealing the deep impact the proposed changes would have on their lives and communities.

"I've worked my entire life, and now they want to push the retirement age even further? It's unfair to expect us to work till we drop. We deserve the right to retire with dignity and enjoy the fruits of our labor," said Richard Matthews, a 58-year-old worker who joined the protests.

Samantha Rodriguez, a single mother, voiced her concerns over the proposed changes to child benefit policies. "Child benefit is a lifeline for many of us struggling to make ends meet. Taking it away from families in need would be devastating. Every child deserves the same opportunities, regardless of their family's income."

The proposed shift in the distribution of social welfare benefits ignited protests from activists like Emma Turner, who asserted, "Decentralizing welfare distribution may lead to disparities among different regions. We need a cohesive system that ensures everyone receives adequate support when they need it the most."

Another pressing issue for activists is the guarantee of minimum income. Robert Johnson, an advocate for social justice, stated, "Removing direct cash payments would be a grave mistake. People rely on this support to meet their basic needs. It's a lifeline for many, and taking it away would push vulnerable individuals deeper into poverty."

The potential privatization of homeless shelters and reintegration projects has also sparked heated discussions. Linda Carter, a volunteer at a government-run shelter, expressed her concerns, saying, "Privatization could put profits before people. We must ensure that those experiencing homelessness receive the care and support they need, without compromising on quality."

As the protests continue to intensify, Clovisport citizens are expressing their commitment to safeguarding the social welfare system and advocating for the well-being of all citizens. The government is facing mounting pressure to engage with the public and address their concerns, as the proposed changes have struck a deep chord among the population.

[Dak]

THE LIKATONIAN HERALD
March 5340


CNF Leader Kinstone Slams Opposition's Anti-Austerity Efforts

HELENVILLE, EAST BOLTON - Capitalist National Front Katherine Kinstone issued scathing remarks at a rally in Helenville in response to some efforts in the National Assembly to curb the "semi-austerity efforts." Kinstone referenced former CNF leader Dwight O'Hare's austerity agenda as "one of the greatest economic recovery efforts this country has seen" and pledged voters that she would continue to fight "on the side of fiscal responsibility." This "austerity agenda," which has been supported by the CNF since its' inception, calls for cuts to social spending, deregulation of the economy and market, and the advocacy of pro-business policies on the Assembly floor. This is coming off of attempts by the CNF to mobilize voters once again for the general election in April next year as they seek greater political power in the National Assembly.

"So many political demagogues will attempt to convince you that the CNF is anti-Likatonian. We have been accused of being countless political pejoratives; however, that will not stop our passion and drive to change this country for the better. For too long, citizens have been ignored and their needs left unnoticed. Billions, if not trillions, of Likaths in resources have been spent on fixing social problems that never had a monetary solution in the first place. It is time to reform this government into one of responsible stewards of the Treasury. We cannot keep electing politicians who believe that spending other people's money is the solution to issues that ALL countries face. It is even more so preposterous to think that the whole wants to assume total responsibility of the parts. However... opposition leaders will convince you the way through these issues is to spend, spend, spend. I do not know about you... but I want to leave my grandchildren a stable country that has the means to support itself. We have made excellent changes to our country's policies to do this, but we are just getting started. And we need your support!"

A state of 19.9 million people, East Bolton remains a crucial stomping ground for leaders of all political parties, not just the Capitalist National Front. Nonetheless, the CNF has invested more money in this state than ever before, trying to ramp up support among voters who have been rather skeptical of the party's policies in elections past. In the April 5339 election, the CNF only secured 0.06% of the vote share in East Bolton - a little over 7.5k votes - leading some CNF barnstormers questioning whether dumping resources in the state is a smart move. However, that does not mean that there is not fierce support for the CNF among the population. "I support the efforts of the CNF," stated East Boltonite Charles Ludhansen, "they are actually trying to save the taxpayer some money instead of throwing it at problems like that has ever worked."

As political tensions ramp up, the National Assembly has been also ramped up as the legislature decided on 15+ new pieces of legislation in 5339 alone. Efforts to reform energy subsidization, public pension systems, environmental restrictions, business and corporation regulations, among others have taken precedent, mainly spearheaded by the CNF and Leader Kinstone. It is up to the public to decide whether they agree with the austerity policies supported by the CNF or if they believe another route is the best foot forward for Likatonia. One thing is certain leading up to the election in April next year: it will be fast and furious.

[SWPV]

The Red Star Tribune
Profits Over People: The Dangerous Policies of the Right
'

In a new era of Likatonian politics, the Republican Party, the Reform Party, the Radical Progressive Liberal Party, and the Capitalist National Front have emerged as prominent voices. Their rhetoric might be polished and their promises tempting, but a closer look reveals a grim reality: their policies put profits before people, and place corporations above citizens.

These parties support measures that endanger workers' rights, subjugating them to the whims of profit-hungry corporations. Through their advocacy for deregulation and their opposition to protections for employees, they are complicit in the creation of a working environment akin to enslavement. Worker exploitation and wealth concentration are inevitable outcomes of such policies, as history has shown us.

Furthermore, these parties' policies facilitate a reckless disregard for human life, as long as corporations stand to profit. By weakening regulations on industrial safety, environmental protections, and consumer rights, they provide a free pass for corporations to murder people with impunity. For these parties, tragedies like industrial accidents and environmental catastrophes are not unforeseeable accidents, but the predictable consequences of these policies that are great for society.

The right-wing coalition is also striving to dismantle social security systems, leaving vulnerable citizens without a safety net. Their proposed cuts in social welfare would deprive countless citizens of their basic needs. In their world, the right to food, shelter, and healthcare is conditional upon one's ability to pay. This inherently devalues human life and dignity, turning them into commodities available only to the highest bidder. For these parties, the only thing that matters to any human they meet is how much that person is worth in Likaths. Nothing more.

Moreover, these parties are directly undermining human dignity. Their steadfast opposition to progressive labor rights, their attempts to dismantle welfare systems, and their refusal to regulate rampant income inequality reveal a disconcerting disregard for the value of each individual citizen.

The Communist Party of Likatonia remains committed to defending the rights and dignity of all Likatonians. We are against the greed-driven, inhumane policies of these right-wing parties. We will not stand by while our people are exploited, marginalized, and stripped of their dignity. We will continue to fight for policies that prioritize people over profits, that uphold the rights of workers, and that ensure that every Likatonian is treated with the dignity and respect they deserve.

For a Likatonia that puts people before profits, we urge our fellow citizens to reject the empty promises of the right-wing parties. Stand with us in the fight for a fair, equitable, and compassionate society.

[Might 123]

Democratic Unity Party launch party set up manifesto

The Democratic Unity Party leader, Dominic Brown has announced the launch of a party set up manifesto in order to "promote the party and its solid ideas". Its unusual for a political party to launch a manifesto when there isn't a general election taking place any time soon, however the DUP are definitely going to want to try and claw as much support and new membership in order to try and claim as many seats possible in the next election. They could be potential king makers in forming potential government, albeit unlikely. The DUP has grown in recent months in popularity and this manifesto launch will only help the party's for support in the near future. In the Clovisport Town Sports Hall, where the mini announcement of the manifesto took place, the members of the crowd seemed content and guided on the contents of the manifesto which included the proposal of a National Health Service, limitations of prayer in schools and Tax decreases for businesses and for people on low income.

[Might 123]

Likatonian Times: Leaked Docs Rock DUP, Heads Expected To Role Months Before Election?
May 17th, 5356

Just months prior to the general election, a number of documents have leaked that indicate that several high ranking members of the Democratic Unity Party, have been involved with certain financial irregularities. Chris Reid, a shadow minister for Trade and Industry for the DUP has today resigned his post due to allegations made towards him about alleged misappropriation of funds and embezzlement. The leaked documents also show some inner workings within the party and how the party's financial security, or lack there of, are investigating these matters, matters containing improprieties around suspicious transactions and storage of funds offshore that belong to party members. Critics and opponents will certainly argue that this scandal is now an image of the DUP's lack of responsibility and lack of care. Raising some serious questions about the leadership and individuals which are fully fledged, high ranking members of Dominic Browns team.


Chris Reid, former shadow minister for the DUP

Other members of the party have been named in the leaked documents, including Isabel Smith, who earlier this year was involved in a lawsuit over contractual disputes. The documents may have opened a door which the DUP may not be able to close in terms of trust between them and the general public, there's already some outcry over this situation and this could well impact the party negatively in the up coming General Election. Dominic Brown has confirmed that an investigation towards the allegations will take place.

Well i have to say that if these allegations that have came to light turn out to be true then i can confirm that there will definitely be some heads rolling and that may well include heads of people who i worked with and respect. There is going to be an independent investigation into these matters soon and i have also accepted the resignation of Chris Reid. its an extremely unfortunate situation and i must say that this situation is indeed news to me and to the people of Likatonia and i understand perfectly if this has shown the party in a bad light and i have to say i am really, really sorry about that.

- Dominic Brown, leader of the Democratic Unity Party

If these allegations turn out to be true then wont this have a catastrophic effect on the next election?

- LT Reporter

Well i certainly hope not but i don't think it will due to the party having progressed in recent months, the party grows stronger each day and on the door step, we are hearing all good things, whenever a person expresses dissatisfaction towards us for whatever reason then we listen and try to grasp what's important to them and we take that with us. Soon we will be opening our election campaign and we will run a critical but definitely positive campaign. We want to win and its up to the electorate and the electorate alone to see if they want us in a position of power or not. I'm afraid that's all i have time for, thank you.

- Dominic Brown

[Autokrator15]

Luthori Daily: Luthori invites Likatonia to talks about closer relations

[Might 123]

Likatonian Times: Dominic Brown wants Likatonia to join the Commonwealth of Luthorian Nations
March 1st, 5359




At the Democratic Unity Party Conference today in Clovisport, the leader of the DUP, Dominic Brown said that he wishes for the country to join the Commonwealth of Luthorian Nations (CLN) and urges the government to sign up. The CLN is an international Bloc consisting of former colonies and territories of the old Luthorian Empire and the goal of the Commonwealth is to share cultural and linguistic ties which may already exist and to cooperate diplomatically. Mr. Brown said that Likatonia joining the agreement is "a must". Here's what he had to say:

It is very much imperative for us as a nation to not ever go in the dark globally and that is obviously a given, people talk about the Commonwealth of Luthorian Nations, people say it maybe a bad thing, a way of trying to merge back the old Empire, i think very much differently however, i think that Likatonia Joining the Commonwealth is a must and i'll tell you why. The CLN may just represent a strong union of nations working together for stability, unity, communion and economic prosperity, all things any nation must have with its neighbours or even far flung friends across the globe. The Commonwealth of Luthorian Nations can benefit us via pooling our nation's resources and creating an order of peace and, like i said, decent cooperation.

So i call on the President, and on Regina Moore, to do the right thing and put the treaty into the Assembly so it can hopefully be ratified. I myself will work endlessly to try and get the rest of the Luthorian speaking world of greater unity, as is in our parties name, thank you.

- Dominic Brown, leader of the DUP

[Might 123]

Likatonian Times: Dominic Brown resigns as DUP leader following election failure
September 3rd, 5359

Despite all the hopes and aspirations from the DUP going into the election, the party had a dismal showing with only a few hundred thousand extra votes from the last election however they got less votes in terms of voter share from the last election ( 9.71% in 5356 to 8.93% in 5359) and the party also lost 7 seats. Dominic Brown said that he would resign if the party had a 'disappointing' election and it seems he was true to his word, this was what he had to say:

Ladies and gentlemen of the Party, i tell you that today is a pivotal moment in our party's short but strong history. Its with a saddened but immensely proud heart that i say to you today that i am officially resigning as leader of the Democratic Unity Party following the results of the 5359 election, the election has, lets face it, not gone the way we all has hoped. We hoped to increase our share of the vote and to be in a strong position which could easily be compared with the other 3 main parties, we wished that we could welcome new brothers and sisters into the assembly and that we could have our voices heard, we of course still can have our voices heard but unfortunately, with less members of the assembly. I still know that this party is the only party that is fit to champion the peoples call and it is the only party to do what is right for Likatonia but alas the great people of this nation have said differently. Whoever takes my place as party leader, i know you all will get behind them 100%. Thank you all and god bless our party, thank you.

- Dominic Brown

[Might 123]

Likatonian Times: Darwin Baker elected DUP leader



Darwin Baker has been elected leader of the DUP, the new leader takes similar stances to his predecessor in that moderation must come first. He will be hoping for a better election result than what Dominic Brown received last time out.

[Might 123]

Likatonian Times: Amy Shirley Proposes Shadow Spending Plan To The Assembly. Likely to pass
September 4th, 5361



Amy Shirley, the Shadow Minister for Finance for the Democratic Unity Party has today proposed a shadow Government Spending bill which the DUP hopes the current government will take on, the current amount of government spending is around about 187 billion LIK total in all sectors which means the nation is currently losing 30.5 billion LIK annually due to the amount the government receives in revenue being less than 187 billion that's being spent. The DUP's proposal is not what the party's original budget was in their last manifesto, however the reason for this is because this budget bill is supposed to get the 376 votes needed to pass quite easily, its supposed to be a cross assembly agreement, with there being zero proposals of any tax increases and the bill only proposing spending cuts, its very likely going to get the Reform Party and Republicans on board. The reason for why it is a cross party bill and not a DUP original proposal is mainly down to how bad the deficit is.

The bill itself will cut down the spending like such:

Head of Government Departments: Old: 8,000,000,000 LIK Proposed: 230,000,000 LIK: -7.7 Billion LIK

Foreign Affairs Departments: Old: 9,000,000,000 LIK Proposed: 3,000,000,000 LIK: -6 Billion LIK

Internal Affairs Old: 10,000,000,000 LIK Proposed: 10,000,000,000 LIK: Unchanged

Financial and Economic Departments: Old: 9,000,000,000 LIK Proposed: 1,500,000,000 LIK: -7.5 Billion

Ministry of Defence: Old: 40,000,000,000 LIK Proposed: 37,000,000,000 LIK: -3 Billion LIK

Justice Departments: Old: 150,000,000 LIK Proposed: 1,500,000,000 LIK: +1.35 Billion LIK

Infrastructure and Transport: Old: 1,000,000,000 LIK Proposed: 10,000,000,000 LIK: -9 Billion LIK

Health and Social Services: Old: 33,000,000,000 LIK Proposed: 30,000,000,000 LIK: -3 Billion LIK

Education and Culture: Old: 20,000,000,000 LIK Proposed: 20,000,000,000 LIK: Unchanged

Science and Technology: Old: 25,000,000,000 LIK Proposed: 17,000,000,000 LIK: -8 Billion LIK

Food and Agriculture: Old: 6,000,000,000 LIK Proposed: 5,000,000,000 LIK: -1 Billion LIK

Environment and Tourism: Old: 6,000,000,000 LIK Proposed: 8,000,000,000 LIK: +2 Billion LIK

Trade and Industry: Old: 20,000,000,000 LIK Proposed:13,000,000,000 LIK: -7 Billion LIK

Those who read the Democratic Unity Party manifesto will definitely be confused as they promised:

"We will establish a Universal Healthcare System and we will match the spending on Healthcare as the same for the spending on Defence, we will also increase the budget on the Environment by 5% each year for a full term in office.

- Quote taken from the Democratic Unity Party election manifesto from 5359

But as mentioned, the DUP is not proposing what budget they want but a budget that they think will likely get the 376 votes needed for it to pass. Many of the DUP membership are opposed to these measures and believe there was another potential motion which could of been proposed to the Assembly and which lacked off high spending cuts in replace for tax increases, but Amy Shirley and co would just point to the fact that the Reform and Republican Parties will vote against any tax rises no matter what.